JULY 23, 2014

F1 will respect Russia GP contract says Ecclestone

Bernie Ecclestone has moved to dismiss doubts about this year's inaugural Russian grand prix.

In the wake of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 atrocity, pressure is falling on formula one to cancel its scheduled event at Sochi in October.

The Daily Mail said Mercedes, whose Malaysian sponsor Petronas has set up a fund for the families of the 298 victims, is privately 'uneasy' about attending an event so closely associated with Vladimir Putin.

But Bernie Ecclestone, who earlier this year revealed his "great admiration" for the controversial Russian president, insists: "I don't see any problem with going.

"We are not involved in politics. We have a contract with them. We'll respect it 100 per cent and so will Mr Putin, I'm sure. He's been very supportive," the F1 chief executive added.

The Daily Mail quoted a FIA spokesman as saying that while the Paris federation is "awake to the situation", it did not want to "mix politics and sport".